Calathea Care Guide
Calathea
Also known as: Prayer Plant Family, Goeppertia
Watering
Summer
Every 8 days
Winter
Every 12 days
Keep soil evenly moist but never waterlogged. These plants hate drying out completely.
Light
Medium indirect
A few feet from a window, or north-facing
Humidity
60-80%
High humidity lover. Consider a humidifier or pebble tray.
Pet & Child Safety
Safe for pets and children
Pot & Soil
Needs consistently moist but never soggy soil. Use a peat-free mix with perlite and orchid bark for aeration.
Pot-size watering
The 8-12 day range is a starting point. A 5cm pot can need checking much sooner, while a 22cm pot may stay moist for longer. Keep the soil lightly moist, but check below the surface so a large pot is not staying soggy.
Balanced root room
This plant does best with a pot just larger than the root ball. Too much spare wet soil can make watering harder to judge.
Soil refresh
Refresh tired or compacted soil yearly, because moisture-loving plants still need air around the roots, not dense wet mix.
Good to Know
Leaves move throughout the day. Needs filtered water.
Frequently asked
How often should I water Calathea?▾
Every 8 days in summer and every 12 days in winter is the reference range. The 8-12 day range is a starting point. A 5cm pot can need checking much sooner, while a 22cm pot may stay moist for longer. Keep the soil lightly moist, but check below the surface so a large pot is not staying soggy. Keep soil evenly moist but never waterlogged. These plants hate drying out completely.
What light does Calathea need?▾
Medium indirect. A few feet from a window, or north-facing.
Is Calathea safe for pets and children?▾
Yes - Calathea is safe for pets and children.
What humidity does Calathea prefer?▾
60-80%. High humidity lover - consider a humidifier or pebble tray.
What soil and pot does Calathea need?▾
Needs consistently moist but never soggy soil. Use a peat-free mix with perlite and orchid bark for aeration. This plant does best with a pot just larger than the root ball. Too much spare wet soil can make watering harder to judge. Refresh tired or compacted soil yearly, because moisture-loving plants still need air around the roots, not dense wet mix.
Is Calathea beginner-friendly?▾
Calathea is a houseplant best suited to experienced plant parents.
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